Zurich Cantonal Council approves credit for new UZH centre

The University of Zurich (UZH) has moved a step closer to building a new education and research centre. The Zurich Cantonal Council has approved the estimated loan of CHF 598 million for the project. The FORUM UZH is to become the new hub of the university.

The Zurich Cantonal Council has approved the property loan for the new FORUM UZH education and research centre. The loan is estimated at 598 million Swiss francs, minus 1.3 million Swiss francs for art in construction, according to a media release. The new building is to become the most important central location of the University of Zurich in the centre of the city.

As a modern counterpart to the historic main building, the FORUM UZH is of “central importance” for the future development of the university, the UZH said. “The cantonal council has made a forward-looking decision so that Zurich’s higher education area can continue to develop,” Michael Schaepman, rector of UZH, is quoted as saying in the statement.

The new building will create 37,000 square metres of urgently needed additional space for research and teaching an increasing number of students. More than 700 student workplaces are planned. A total of 6000 people will be able to study, research and work on nine floors.

The space concept according to plans by architects Herzog & de Meuron is to correspond to the latest forms of learning and teaching and offer ideal conditions for exchange between teaching staff, researchers and students. The design of the lecture halls, for example, is much more strongly oriented towards cooperation and group work than before. Modern workplaces for research are also planned.

The next step for UZH is to prepare a building application. It plans to submit it to the city of Zurich in autumn. If planning permission is granted by spring 2024, construction can begin in autumn 2024. Completion is planned for the end of 2029.